Editing Pontiac V8 engine (section)

===301 W72 "T/A 4.9"===
While not related to the 400 W72, the concept was the same. The W72 301 was a tuned L37 301 Pontiac V8 with some minor upgrades. All 1980 Trans Ams received this engine as standard with the option to delete this engine choice as a credit option for the standard L37 301. The main upgrade for the engine was the ESC, (Electronic Spark Control)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tran-zam.com/fhistory/1980Facts.aspx|title = 1980 Firebird and Trans Am Fact Sheet|date = 2 November 2021}}</ref> which provided slightly more power at {{cvt|170|hp|0}}for the 1980–1981 model years. For 1981 this engine was officially called the 301-EC [EC standing for Electronic Controls] in the 1981 GM factory service manual and is referred to as "high performance" The RPO W72 option was no longer used as a result, similar to how all W72 engines in 1979 were coded L78.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tran-zam.com/fhistory/1981Engines.aspx|title=Tran-Zam.com|website=tran-zam.com}}</ref>

One of the key modifications over the standard 301 4-barrel was the 301 Turbo block. The 301T block was significantly more durable than the standard 301 block and received a thicker bottom end. This included the ESC (Electronic Spark Control) distributor and controller borrowed from the 301 Turbo, which allowed for higher timing without the penalty of engine damaging pinging or preignition. A larger {{cvt|4|in|1|adj=on}} ram air flex duct to the air cleaner from the left-hand fender, specific carburettor calibration for the Rochester Quadrajet, a "T/A 4.9" callout on the shaker, 60 psi oil pump, and cam similar in grind to the {{cvt|220|hp|0}} 400 from the 1978–1979 model year were also included. Unfortunately, there were no improvements in the casting number "01" small-valve high-velocity heads, which would have yielded greater improvements in power. Additionally, the 301 W72 never received the option to come equipped with a manual transmission like the standard 301 received in 1979, and disappointingly, production for all Pontiac V8's ended soon after as GM sought to "corporatize" engine production.